Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway will cost Rs31,500 crore

Informing that funding of Rs31,500 crore for Mumbai-Nagpur communication Super Expressway would be raised through loans from financial institutions, minister for PWD (MSRDC) Eknath Shinde on Wednesday informed that the project involves 27 townships and setting up of 24 agriculture prosperity centers.

Shinde was replying to a question in state assembly on Wednesday during the question hour. The question was posed by Gopaldas Agrawal, Aslam Shaikh, Jitendra Avhad and Pandurang Barora.

The minister informed that the total length of the express way would be 710km and involves acquisition of 20,820 hectare of land.

He informed the House that the infrastructure committee of the state cabinet has already given its nod for the project and detailed project report is being prepared. "The local youth would be provided employment at the proposed agriculture prosperity centres through a scheme and the locals would be provided with developed land in return of their land given for the project. The basic amenities like water, electricity and roads would be provided by the state government and the cost of the project does not include the money required for land acquisition and the setting up of agriculture prosperity centers," said Shinde.